Following negative feedback from the surrounding community, developers interested in reimagining the Belle View Shopping Center went back to the drawing board.
Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods expressed fear that adding 900 housing units to the shopping center would cause increased congestion in the area.
In a revised proposal posted on the South County SSPA website last week, residential units were reduced from 900 multifamily units and some townhouses to 300 multifamily units and 20 live/work units. The new multifamily building would be three to five stories high with a density of 20 dwelling units per acre. The proposal nominators say this density is in keeping with several surrounding apartments and condominiums. New pedestrian access and a large park area are also part of the plan.
Additionally, the retail space would be reduced from its current 182,000 square feet to 90,000 to 110,000 square feet. Developers say that this is more appropriate in light of the changing nature of retail.
The Belle View Shopping Center was originally built in the 1959 and the owners say it is time for a change. The shopping center is home to a Safeway and a variety of other small retailers. One store and a stand-alone bank building are currently for lease. A large section of the center is being rebuilt following a devastating 6-alarm fire that ripped through several businesses in October 2019.
In the new proposal, the nominator said, “We are excited to partner with the community on the process to study whether this concept makes sense for both the owner and the larger neighborhood so the shopping center will continue to serve the area for decades to come. We believe this evolution of the plan best allows a framework to balance the goals of residents and our tenants.”
The Mount Vernon SSPA task force will discuss the new proposal at a virtual public meeting on Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Information for attending the meeting via phone or WebEx can be found here. The public can send comments to the task force ahead of the meeting by emailing them to MtVernon@fairfaxcounty.gov.
